Steam-superheater for locomotive-boilers



G. B. GREEN.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. B. GREEN.

STEAM SUPERHEATER FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-2,1917.

1,356,354, Patented 001;. 19,192d.

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G. B. GREEN.

STEAM SUPERHEATER FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2,1917.

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UNITED STA'I ES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE B. GREEN, or MIAMI, ARIZONA.

STEAM-SUPERHEATER FOR LOCOMOTI'VE-BOIIQERS.

Application filed. February 2, 1917.

. ticularly to an improved steam superheating means therefor.

The invention has for its principal object to provide steam superheating means adapted for use in conjunction with locomotive steam boilers, whereby, the ordinary saturated steam as generated therein will be conducted from the usual steam dome and circulated through conveying means into the course of the waste heat from the locomotive fire-box, thereby superheating the steam before its introduction into the steam chest of the engine. I

Another object of the invention is to provide novel heat insulating j acketing means, the said j acketing means being disposed about the superheating portion of the locomotive boiler, thus, preventing loss of the steam by way of condensation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means for normally maintaining a vacuum in the heat insulating jacketing means, the vacuum maintaining means being also provided with additional air exhausting means, whereby, in the event that the vacuum within the insulating jacketing should become broken, the same may be again readily established.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel circulating pipesfor receivinga portion of the saturated steam, the pipes being so formed as to delay or baffle the passage of the saturated steam therethrough, consequently expediting the superheating of the same.

Other objects relate to considerations of economy of production, durability in use, and convenience in operation of the several devices or parts entering intothe construction of elements and the above defined general organization of said elements.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the parts of the superheating means as well as in the details of the construction of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Serial No. 146,223. 7

same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to this specification and which form an essential part of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a locomotive boiler showing my improved superheating means as applied thereto; I

Fig. 2 is a transverse section in elevation therethrough Fig. 3 isa longitudinal horizontal section in elevation through the superheating portion of the steam boiler; and

Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary detail in front elevation of the locomotive boiler showing the arrangement of the cylinder door.

Similar characters of reference are employed mail of the above'described views to indicate corresponding parts. Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the said drawings, it will be noted, that I have shown by way of illustrat1on, my improved superheating means as applledto the forward portion of a locomotive steam boiler, fragmentally shownv and designated in its entirety by the numeral 1. A plurality of horizontally disposed fiues, generally indicated by the numeral 2 are arranged within the boiler 1 and have their opposite ends received in a suitably spaced apart flue sheet 3, this sheet being also arranged in fixed position within the boiler 1. A dry pipe 4 extends longitudinally of a portion of the steam boiler and has one of the ends thereof communicating with the usual steam dome, not shown, while the remaining end is connected to a boxing or steam receptacle 5, which receptacle is secured to the boiler in proximity of the forward flue sheet 3. As will be noted, the boxing 5 is composed of a plurality of semi-circular sections, which sections have the adjacent marginal edges thereof flanged as at 6, whereby locking bolts or rivets 7 may bepassed through the same.

About the forward portion of the boiler 1 there is arranged a jacket 8, said jacket being arranged in spaced relation there from and secured in position thercabout through the medium of rivets 9 and heating insulating blocks 10, the blocks, as will be noted, being interposed between the j acketing member 8 and the forward portion of the boiler 1. By arranging the jacketing member 8 about the boiler, it will be appreciated, that upon the exhausting of air therefrom, an eflicient heat insulating means is provided for, whereby the steam passing from the boiler will be prevented from condensing.

An inner plate 11 is arranged within the forward portion of the boiler 1 and is also secured thereto by means of a plurality of rivets, generally designated by the numeral 12, while the rear portion or extremity of the said plate 11 is flanged as at 13, whereby, the same may be secured to the flue sheet 3 by means of rivets lt which are passed through the said flange into engagement with the flue sheet. It will be understood, that the plate 11 is arranged in spaced relation from the forward portion of the boiler 1 and consequently, provides a chamber therebetween into which the steam to be superheated is introduced, the manner of the introduction and circulation of the steam being more fully hereinafter set forth. An opening 15 is formed within the top of the plate 11 and is in alineinent with other openings 16 as formed in the boiler 1 and the outer jacketing member 8 respectively, whereby, proper communication between the interior of the boiler and a smoke stack 17 may be established. Each of the members 8 and 11 are provided with annular flanges adjacent the openings therein, which flanges abut the opposite faces of the boiler 1, thereby, providing a fluid tight connection.

Other openings 18 and 19 are formed in the lower portions of the members 8 and 11 and aline with a similar opening as formed within the adjacent portion of the boiler 1. Into these alined openings, the upper portion of a steam chest 20 is passed, the portion of the steam chest as projecting into the opening being snugly received thereby and having suitable packing arranged thereon whereby, to render a fluid tight connection between the inner plate 11 and the boiler 1. As will be noted, the opening 19 as formed within the outer acketing member 8 is of a size greater than the steam chest 20 and is provided with a depending neck portion 21, the neck portion in turn being engaged with a casing 22, which serves as a heat insulating chamber, surrounding the steam chest, as designated by the numeral 23 and the engine cylinder 24. Filler blocks 25 are arranged between the bottom portion of the casing 22 and the engine cylinder 24: and obviously, serve to support the same in spaced relation from the said casing.

The casing 22 together with the engine cylinder 24: are arranged upon the usual locomotive truck indicated by the reference letter T. A trackway 26 is arranged upon the truck T adjacent one end of the casing 22 and the engine cylinder 24 and slidably receives thereupon the usual cross head 27, which cross head is engaged with the cylinder piston rod 28 and the connecting rod 29. A steam pipe 30 is arranged upon the upper portion of the steam chest 23 and is adapted to receive such steam as introduced thereinto and to convey the same to the proper intake ports of the engine cylinder 24;. It is to be noted, that the upper extremity of the steam pipe 30 is arranged in spaced relation from the upper portion of the steam chest 20, specifically, that portion of the same as projects upwardly through the opening 18 as formed within the plate 11.

Forwardly of the truck T, a drain tank 31 is positioned and is provided with a drain pipe 32, while a steam pipe 33, is engaged with the pipe 44 and passes downwardly into one end of the said drain tank 31, for a purpose which will be subsequently obvious. A pressure controlled check-valve ea is arranged within the bottom of the tank 31 and serves as means for discharging such water as may accumulate within the chamber between the outer jacketing membe' S and the boiler l, which chamber, will be hereinafter referred to as the vacuum heat insulating chamber, It is to be noted, that the steam pipe 33 is extended into the drain tank 31and has secured to its extremity a jet 35, which when steam is forced therethrough under pressure will serve as means for creating a suction within the drain tank 31, thereby expediting the drainage of the water and air from the vacuum heat insulating body.

It may be here noted that several engine cylinders are arranged on the truck T one on either side thereof whereby, the locomotive may be efliciently driven. However, for the purpose of convenience reference will be had to but one of the cylinders, it being understood that the same will sufiice for both cylinders.

An exhaust pipe 36 having oppositely disposed branches 37 formed upon the lower extremities thereof is passed vertically through the boiler 1 and upwardly thereinto to a point in proximity of the smoke stack 17. The branches 3'? are'connected to each of the steam chests 23 and serve as means for conveying the exhaust steam from the engine cylinders 24. A hood 38 is arranged directly over'the. upper end of the exhaust pipe 36 and obviously, serves as means for directing the exhaust, steam upwardly into and through the stack 17.

lVith a view toward providing means whereby the cylinder at will be supplied with steam, which steam will be superheated previous to its introduction thereinto, there is passed through the openings as formed within one side of the boxing 5, a plurality of curved steam circulating pipes 39, the remaining or free ends of which are passed upwardly into engagement with the plate 11 and are adapted to discharge into the chamber as arranged between the said plate and the boiler 1. Other steam circulating pipes 40 communicate with the plate 11 at points in proximity of the discharge of the pipes 39 thereinto and are curved throughout their length while the remaining or lower extremities of the same are connected to the lower portion of the said jacketing member 11 and to the upper portion 20 of the steam chest 23. A baflie plate 41 is secured to the flue sheet 3, in proximity of the boxing 5 and extends laterally therefrom to a point near the forward end of the boiler 1. Obviously, by providing the baffle plate 41, the passage of the waste heat from the fire-box of the locomotive upwardly through the stack 17 will be caused to assume a tortuous course and by so delaying its discharge, the same will be caused to thoroughly circulate about the pipes 40 and the plate 11, consequently, superheating the saturated steam as contained therein and as received from the boxing 5. passes the bafiie plate 41, it is then directed onto the circulating pipes 40, also heating the same, before its discharge through the smoke stack 17. By so treating the saturated steam as delivered from the boxing 5, it will be appreciated, that the same will be rendered exceedingly dry and when introduced intothe steam chest 23 for passage into the cylinder or cylinders 24 will provide a powerful driving medium therefor.

In order that the forward portion of the boiler 1 may be cleaned when it becomes necessary, suitable openings are formed therein and also in the members 8 and 11, through which there is passed a sleeve 42. A door 43 is hingedly mounted upon the outer extremity of the said sleeve 42 and is adapted to be swung thereover at times.

In order that a vacuum may be established within the heat insulating chamber, should for any reason the same become broken by the introduction of air thereinto, there is engaged with the upper portion of the outer jacketing member 8, by way of a suitable opening as formed therein, a pipe 44, which pipe extends to the cab 45 of the locomotive and is provided with a suitable hand valve 46, the said hand valve serving as means for controlling the passage 'of steam through the pipe 44, which pipe, extends into engagement with the dry pipe 4. Thus, by opening the valve 46, a supply of steam will be introduced into the vacuum heat insulating chamber, and consequently, such air as contained within the same will be forced therefrom by way of the drain pipe 32 and the As the heat I steam pipe 33; the steam serving as a pisston, Will force the air through the drain pipe 32, and furthermore, when passed into the jet 35, will serve as means forrereating an additional suction within thesaid drain tank 31. Upon the existence of pressure within the drain tank 31, the pressure controlled check valve 34 will'instantly open, consequently, permitting such air and water as may be contained thereby, to be dis charged from the same. When a vacuum is to be again established, the hand valve 46 is then closed and such water as will be caused by the condensation of the steam within the vacuum heat insulating chamoer will bepermitted to drain therefrom through the pipes 32 into the drain tank 31.

The operation of the construction may be reviewed as follows:

Steam upon passing from the steam dome ofthe locomotive through the dry pipe 4 to the boxing 5 will be distributed evenly through the circulating pipes 39 and consequently, receives its initiative heating through the medium of the exhausting products of combustion as passing from the firebox of the locomotive boiler.- The steam now in its partly superheated state is introduced into the chamber as arranged between the inner jacketing member 11 and the boiler 1. Upon its introduction into the said chamber, the steam is now caused to circulate therethrough and a portion of the same will be shunted through the circulating pipes 40. Circulation of the steam through the remaining portion of the steam chamber and the circulating pipes 40 will permit the same to be highly heated or specifically, superheated, whereupon, it will be delivered into the upper portion of the steam chest 20, ready for passage into the steam cylinder or cylinders 24.

It is to be understood, that by curving the circulating pipes 39 and 40, the steam as passing therethrough is not only caused to assume a tortuous course but also, that such expansion and contraction of the same as may be caused by the variable temperature to which they are subjected, will have no effect upon the connections of the same with the inner plate 11, the boxing 5 or the upper portions 20 of the steam chest 23.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all.

the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. The combination with a locomotive steam boiler having a dry pipe and a steam chest, of steam superheating means com prising a double wall structure arranged forwardly of the boiler to provide a steam space, a plurality of curved conduits communicating with the dry pipe, and said double wall structure to convey steam thereto, other curved conduits communicating with the double wall structure and the steam chest, means about said double wall structure and chest forwardly of the boiler to provide a vacuum chamber, and means connecting the vacuum chamber with the steam dry pipe to create a vacuum in said chamber.

2. The combination with a locomotive steam boiler having a dry pipe and a steam chest, of steam superheating means comprising a double wall structure arranged at the forward portion ofthe boiler and spaced from the same, a plurality of curved conduits arranged in the forward end of the boiler and communicating with the dry pipe and the double wall structure, a casing carried by the boiler and receiving the chest to provide a vacuum chamber, a lead from the dry pipe to the chamber for creating a vacuum therein, and means connected with said lead and communicating with the casing for controlling the vacuum in said vacuum chamber.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

GEORGE B. GREEN. 

